After 25 years of teaching jr-hi English, I decided I was invincible, so I started my own mystery series. When I retired after 32 years in the classroom, I wrote a set of middle-grade children's books.

Background
Information

My father was a teacher and my mother was a reader. It was no surprise when all four of their children became teacher/readers. Growing up in a Christian home surrounded by storytellers had a major influence on my life.

Accomplishments

I have a BS degree from Indiana State University and a MS from Indiana University. I recently retired after thirty-two years of classroom teaching, mostly teaching language arts at the middle school level. Before I started writing my mystery series, I spent ten years doing freelance writing. Ten of my articles were published in Christian magazines and educational journals. I am a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and SCBWI. However, my greatest achievements are my marriage of 40 years, our two successful children, and our perfect grandchildren.
My second book, Death of a Hoosier Schoolmaster, was awarded a Tommy Award by SterlingHouse Publishers. My most recent book, The Secret of Bailey's Chase, was a Cybils 2008 Nominee for Fantasy and Science Fiction in the Middle/Elementary age group.

Additional Information

The second book of the Margo Brown Mystery Series, Death of a Hoosier Schoolmaster, was released from SterlingHouse in July of 2002. The third book of the series, The Curriculum Murders, was released in October, 2004. I am currently visiting libraries and bookstores to promote it.
Also, I just completed a set of middle-grade mystery/fantasy novels. The first, The Secret of Bailey's Chase, was released in October, 2008. I am currently visiting schools, discussing reading and writing, and reading to classes. The sequel, Back to Bailey's Chase, is scheduled for release in 2010. I am excited to announce my new website at www.marlisday.com If you visit you may click on the start button and watch as I discuss my new book. If the website is down (I have no idea why that happens, go to you tube and type in my name; it's always there. If you'd like me to visit your school or library, contact me at marlisday@gmail.com
My blog is http://wwwmarlisday.blogspot.com